Trigger Sprayer

ABSTRACT

A dispenser head ( 1 ) comprises a main body ( 2 ), an arm ( 60 ) hinged to the main body ( 2 ) and pumping means. The pumping means comprise a main cylinder ( 12 ), a sliding piston ( 16 ), dispensing means sensitive to pressure. The arm ( 60 ) is hinged to the main body ( 2 ) in a hinging portion ( 60   b ) distanced radially from the body axis (X), straddling the body axis (X) and transmitting an axial translation movement to the piston ( 16 ) by means of an elastically yielding element ( 30 ).

The present invention relates to a dispenser device for dispensing a liquid in a nebulised form.

Nebulisation dispensing devices are able to dispense a liquid in the form of minute drops and are extremely widespread in various sectors, having features making them suited to their use.

For example, in the cosmetics sector, and in particular that of perfumery, the dispensing devices are generally called “finger pumps”, they are activated by pressing the dispenser head with a finger to dispense very small quantities of perfume in an extremely nebulised form.

In the detergents sector however, trigger dispensing devices are normally used, particularly suitable for dispensing generally large quantities of liquid, with a coarser nebulisation.

The known solutions have several drawbacks however, among which that of being unsatisfactory when large quantities of liquid need to be dispensed with a powerful nebulisation.

The purpose of the present invention is to make a dispenser device which satisfies the aforesaid needs, overcoming the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.

The characteristics and advantages of the dispenser device according to the present invention will be made evident from the description which follows, made by way of a non-limiting example, according to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser head according to the present invention, coupled to a container;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the dispenser head in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the dispenser head in FIG. 1, according to the section line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a main body with a terminal duct and nozzle of the head in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the lever mechanism of the head in FIG. 1.

A dispenser device comprises a dispenser head 1 and a container C to contain the liquid; the dispenser head 1 can be mechanically joined to a neck of the container.

The dispenser head 1 comprises a main body 2 comprising an annular collar 4, generally cylindrical, having a body axis X, in which it houses, at least partially, the neck of the container in the assembled configuration of the head 1 on said container. The collar 4 extends therefore from a lower end 4 a, open for the insertion of the neck, to an upper end 4 b.

According to a preferred embodiment, the main body 2 can be coupled to the container by means of elastically deformable fins 2 a projecting radially inwards to the collar for example from a skirt 2 b inside said collar.

The main body 2 comprises in addition a branch 6 which projects from the collar 4; in particular, the branch 6 extends along the body axis X, preferably radially external to said body axis X.

The branch 6 extends therefore from one end 6 a proximal to the collar 4, at the upper end 4 a of said collar, and an opposite free distal end 6 b.

Preferably, the branch 6 is arched, concave on the side facing the body axis X.

Preferably, in addition, the collar 4 and the branch are made in one piece, for example by moulding, preferably in plastic material.

According to a preferred embodiment, the distal end 6 b of the branch 6 is radially external to the collar 4, so as to increase the distance of said distal end from the body axis X.

According to a preferred embodiment, in addition, the main body 2 comprises a crown-shaped base 8, joined to the collar 4 at the upper end 4 a of the latter.

Preferably, in addition, the main body 2 comprises a guide tube 10, joined to the inner rim of the crown-shaped base 8 and having a mainly axial extension.

The dispenser head 1 comprise, in addition, pumping means suitable for being manually activated to dispense the liquid outside the head.

The pumping means comprise a main cylinder 12 extending mainly along the body axis X between an upper end 12 a, supported inside the main body, for example near the upper end 4 a of the collar 4, and a lower end 12 b, projecting axially outside the collar 4.

At the lower end 12 b, the main cylinder 12 has a supply entrance 14 communicating with the container to supply the liquid to the main cylinder 12.

The head 1 comprises non return means able to allow the transit of the liquid from the container to the main cylinder 12 and to prevent the return of the liquid from the main cylinder 12 to the container.

For example, the non-return means comprise a spheroid 15 positioned at the entrance 14 of the main cylinder, resting on a conical seat 15 b.

The pumping means comprise, in addition, according to a preferred embodiment, a piston 16 sliding axially and sealed in the main cylinder 12.

The compartment in the main cylinder 12 between the piston 16 and the spheroid 14 defines a compression chamber 18 for the liquid.

Preferably, the piston 16 has an inner duct 20, opening towards the compression chamber 18 and in fluidic communication with the external environment.

In a preferred embodiment, the head 1 comprises an obturator 22 which acts in conjunction with the piston 16 so that in a closed configuration the obturator obstructs the access of the liquid from the compression chamber 18 to the inner duct 20 and in an open configuration allows such access.

The obturator 22 embodies an example of dispensing means sensitive to the pressure of the liquid in the compression chamber 18 able to place the compression chamber 18 in fluidic communication with the external environment via a dispensing route when the pressure of the liquid in the compression chamber exceeds a threshold dispensing pressure.

The pumping means comprise, in addition, a tubular stem 24, extending axially, joined in translation to the obturator 22 and in fluidic communications, via several holes 26, with the inner duct 20 of the piston 16, in which said stem 24 slides axially. The inside of the stem 24 is fluidically connected to the outside environment.

The stem 24 comprises an annular boss 27 extending radially.

The pumping means comprise, in addition, a highly resistant first spring 30, suitable to influence the piston to exert a pressure on the liquid in the compression chamber 18; for example, the first spring 30 is positioned between the annular boss 27 of the dispenser tube 24 and the piston 16.

The first spring 30 is defined “high resistance” in the sense that as a result of the characteristics of the material it is made of or of structural characteristics, it has a high resistance to compression.

The pumping means comprise, in addition, a second, low resistance spring 32 suitable to return the pumping means from the activation configuration to the rest configuration; for example, the second spring 32 is positioned in the compression chamber 18, against the obturator 22.

The second spring 32 is defined “low resistance” in the sense that as a result of the characteristics of the material it is made of or of structural characteristics, it has a low resistance to compression.

The dispenser head 1 comprises, in addition, a terminal duct 40 connected to the stem 24 and in fluidic communication with the outside environment to dispense the nebulised liquid; preferably the terminal duct 40 comprises an axial section 42 extending axially and connected to the stem, and a transversal section 44 extending along a dispensing axis Y, preferably incident to the body axis X, for example perpendicular to it.

The dispenser head 1 comprises, in addition, a rotating dispenser nozzle 50 connected to the end of the transversal section 44.

Said rotating nozzle embodies an example of opening/closing means able to be handled so as to obstruct/liberate the dispensing route and prevent/enable dispensing of the liquid to the outside.

The dispenser head 1 comprises, in addition, an operating arm 60 hinged to the branch 6 of the main body 2 in a hinging portion 60 b and straddling the body axis X. In other words, the arm 60 extends so that the body axis X is incident to said arm.

In particular, the body axis X is outside the hinging portion 60 b, that is, it does not intersect said hinging portion.

Even more specifically, the hinging portion 60 b is radially external to the collar 4, so as to increase the distance of said hinge from the body axis X.

Preferably, the arm 60 is arched so as to be concave towards the main body 2.

Preferably, in addition, the arm 60 comprises an operating lever 62 which extends preferably towards the main body 2, radially external to the body axis X.

Preferably, the lever 62 is convex to the body axis X.

In particular, the lever 62 comprises a free end 62′ opposite the hinging portion 60 b; the free end 62′ is radially distanced from the body axis X.

In particular, the body axis X is external to the free end 62′ of the arm 60, in other words does not intersect said free end.

Even more in particular, the free end 62′ is radially external to the collar 4, so as to increase the distance of said hinge from the body axis X.

The arm 60 presents, on the side opposite the point of hinging with the branch 6, an aperture 64, from which the terminal duct 40, and in particular the nozzle 50 project.

The arm 60 is engaged with the terminal duct 40, and in particular is in contact with it on the concave side, for example at a contact portion 60 a of the arm 60, in the form of radial projections. In other words, the contact portion 60 a is a cam acting on the terminal duct 40, and in particular on respective ears 44 a projecting radially from the transversal section 44 of the terminal duct 40.

The head 1 comprises, in addition, removable safety means able to mechanically block sliding of the piston; for example, said safety means comprise a removable lock 70 which can be coupled to the axial section 42 of the terminal duct 40.

In a rest configuration (FIGS. 1 and 2), the obturator 22 prevents access from the compression chamber to the inner duct 20 of the piston 16, and is therefore in abutment with said piston 16. The piston 16, the obturator 22, the dispensing tube 24, the terminal duct 40 are in the upper limit position; the lever 62 is released and the arm 60 is in the rest limit position.

When the head 1 is gripped so that the palm of the hand is in contact with the main body 2 on the branch side 6 and one or two fingers are on the lever 62, the head 1 is activated by a closing movement of the hand which makes the lever 62 and thus the arm 60 rotate so as to bring the lever 62 towards the main body 2.

The rotation of the arm 60 entails a kinematic translation of the contact portion 60 a in the direction of the body axis X; in particular, from the rest configuration to a dispensing configuration, the contact portion 60 a descends, translating towards the main body 2, that is approaches said central body.

The rotation of the arm 60 thereby induces lowering of the terminal duct 40, of the dispensing tube 24 and, given the presence of liquid in the compression chamber 18, compresses the high resistance spring 30 which pushes the piston 16 so as to compress the liquid in the compression chamber 18. The obturator 22, in such phase of incipient compression of the liquid, remains coupled to the piston 16 and thus prevents access to the inner duct 20.

In the phase of incipient compression, the high resistance spring acts substantially as a rigid spacer, transmitting the translation of the stem 24 to the piston 16.

In other words, the first spring 30 forms an elastically yielding element which transmits an axial translation movement to the piston.

The act of compressing the liquid present in the compression chamber 18, given the substantial impossibility of compressing liquid, significantly and rapidly raises the pressure of the liquid to a threshold dispensing pressure, the pressure acts on the obturator and on the piston 16 so as to separate them: in particular, the pressure acts on the piston so as to oppose the action of the high resistance spring 30 and acts on the obturator so as to compress the low resistance spring 32; the difference in resistance between the springs causes the sudden detachment of the obturator from the piston.

In a dispensing configuration, the obturator 22 is therefore axially separate from the piston 16; the compression chamber 18 is in communication with the outside environment via the inner duct 20 of the piston 16, the stem 24 and the terminal duct 40, which thus define a dispensing route from the compression chamber 18 to the outside environment.

In addition, the high resistance spring which in any case yields axially, is slightly compressed.

The arm 60 is rotated in relation to the position assumed in the rest configuration, and in particular is rotated so that the contact portion 60 a is closer to the main body 2.

Releasing the lever 62, the obturator 22 closes the inner duct 20 of the piston 16 and the low resistance spring 32 brings the head 1 back to the rest configuration.

The second spring 32 thereby constitutes an example of elastic return means.

During dispensing of the liquid, when the pressure in the compression chamber 18, which progressively decreases in volume, falls below the threshold dispensing pressure, the high resistance spring 30 brings the piston back into contact with the obturator.

Given the high resistance of the spring 30, the liquid is dispensed at a pressure very close to the threshold dispensing pressure, throughout the dispensing phase. Advantageously, this helps to produce a particularly fine nebulisation for the entire duration of dispensing.

The high pressure translates into a significant axial thrust impressed on the stem 24 and the terminal duct 40 by the contact portion 60 a. Such significant thrust is obtained by an advantageous lever mechanism composed of the branch 6 and the arm 60.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing how, to obtain dispensing of the liquid, a resistance R, caused by the threshold dispensing pressure, must be overcome by means of a power P. In relation to the fulcrum F, that is the point of hinging between the branch 6 and the arm 60, the resistance R has a resistance arm br and the power P a power arm bp. Given the known laws of levers, P=R(br/bp).

The construction features of the head 1, and in particular the branch 6, the arm 60 and the lever 62, permit a bp/br ratio of 3 to 4, and in particular equal to 4. The power P is therefore about ¼ of the resistance R.

Innovatively, the dispenser head according to the present invention makes it possible to dispense a large dose of a liquid with a particularly fine nebulisation.

In particular, laboratory tests have shown how the average size of the nebulised drops of liquid are about rim and the dose dispensed is about 0.6 ml. Such characteristics make the dispenser head particularly useful for the household air freshener sector, in that the very fine nebulisation enable the drops to remain suspended in the air for a longer time, while high doses of product are needed to freshen standard environments.

Advantageously, in addition, the head according to the present invention allows long range dispensing. Laboratory tests have shown how the average range of dispensing is 1 m. According to a further advantageous aspect, dispensing takes place in a wide aperture dispensing cone; laboratory tests have shown how the angle of aperture is about 35°/40°.

These characteristics too are particularly useful in the air fresheners sector, in that they enable distribution of the product over a wider area.

It is clear that a person skilled in the art may make modifications to the dispenser head described above so as to satisfy contingent requirements.

For example, in one embodiment variation, the main body can be joined to the container by means of threading.

Such variations too fall within the sphere of protection as defined by the following claims. 

1. Dispenser head (1) associable with a container so as to contain a liquid for dispensing, comprising: a main body (2) having a body axis (X); an arm (60) hinged to the main body (2), the arm comprising a lever (62) for activating the head; pumping means comprising: i) a main cylinder (12) supported in the main body (2); ii) a piston (16) sliding axially sealed in the main cylinder (12), which defines in the main cylinder a compression chamber (18); iii) dispensing means sensitive to the pressure of the liquid in the compression chamber (18) able to place the compression chamber (18) in fluidic communication with the external environment via a dispensing route when the pressure of the liquid in the compression chamber exceeds a threshold dispensing pressure; wherein the arm (60) is hinged to the main body (2) in a hinging portion (60 b) distanced radially from the body axis (X), straddles the body axis (X) and transmits an axial translation movement to the piston (16) by means of an elastically yielding element (30), and wherein the arm (60) has a free end (62′) opposite the hinging portion (60 b) with respect to body axis (X) the free end (62′) being radially distanced from the body axis (X).
 2. Dispenser head according to claim 1, wherein the free end (62′) is radially external to a collar (4) of the body (2).
 3. Dispenser head according to claim 1, wherein the hinging portion (60 b) is radially external to a collar (4) of the body (2).
 4. Dispenser head according to claim 1, wherein the main body (2) comprises a branch (6) having a radial extension, at the distal extremity (6 b) of which the arm is hinged (60).
 5. Dispenser head according to claim 4, wherein the distal end (6 b) of the branch (6) is radially external to a collar (4) of the body (2).
 6. Dispenser head according to claim 1, wherein the arm (60) is arched with a concave section towards the main body (2).
 7. Dispenser head according to claim 6, wherein the lever (62) is convex to the body axis ((X).
 8. Dispenser head according to claim 1, wherein the arm (60) is able to transmit the axial translation movement to the piston (16) by means of a tubular stem (24).
 9. Dispenser head according to claim 8, wherein the yielding element is a first spring (30) positioned so as to be compressed between a boss (27) of the stem (24) and the piston (16).
 10. Dispenser head according to claim 8, wherein the stem (24) slides inside the piston (16) and the dispenser mechanism comprises an obturator (22) joined in translation to the stem and disengaging from the piston (16) so as to place the compression chamber (18) in fluidic communication with the outside environment when the pressure of the liquid in the compression chamber exceeds a threshold dispensing pressure.
 11. Dispenser head according to claim 1, comprising elastic return means.
 12. Dispenser head according to claim 11, wherein the elastic return means comprise a second spring (32) housed in the compression chamber, and wherein the elastically yielding element (30) has a greater resistance to compression than the resistance to compression of the second spring (32).
 13. Dispenser head according to claim 1, comprising a terminal duct (40) having a transversal section (44) for dispensing nebulised liquid along a dispensing axis (Y) incident to the body axis and wherein the terminal duct (40) protrudes from an aperture (64) of the arm (60).
 14. Dispenser head according to claim 1, comprising opening/closing means able to be handled so as to prevent/enable dispensing of the liquid to the outside.
 15. Dispenser head according to claim 1, comprising removable safety means able to mechanically block sliding of the piston.
 16. Dispenser head according to claim 1, wherein the body axis (X) is outside the hinging portion (60 b).
 17. Dispenser head according to claim 1, wherein the body axis (X) is outside the free end (62′) of the arm. 